Patterico's Pontifications

5/21/2013

Illegal Immigrant, “Customer” — Potato, Potahto

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 8:02 am



A correspondent sends a link to this piece quoting a critic of the immigration bill:

Additionally, Palinkas argues that the bill does not fix current administration policy that treats immigrants applying for entry into the United States as “customers” of the American government.

“A new USCIS computer system to screen applications known as ‘Transformation’ has proven to be a disaster as the agency has spent upwards of $2 billion for a system that would eventually allow an alien–now referred to as a ‘customer’ under current USCIS policy–to upload their own information via the internet for adjudication purposes,” Palinkas said. “To date, only one form can be accepted into the program that has been in the making for close to 10 years.”

My correspondent sardonically adds:

In related news, prisoners will be referred to as “overnight guests” and criminals will be “Obama voters.”

Language drives policy.

39 Responses to “Illegal Immigrant, “Customer” — Potato, Potahto”

  1. I think we’re comparing apples to kumquats here. Our current system for people to immigrate legally is congested and hard on legitimate would-be Americans; I understood that to be the point of this comment. Legitimate applicants for entry are indeed “customers” and should be treated with respect.

    MT Geoff (a67ef4)

  2. Hardened criminals will be known as O’Bumbles Staffers.

    “Customers” buy things. These people aren’t buying anything, they’re being bought.

    dfbaskwill (ca54bb)

  3. don’t worry roobs and meghan’s coward daddy have a plan

    you’ll see

    happyfeet (8ce051)

  4. I will do that job for half the cost — give me $1 billion and I will produce a web application that allows users to enter a single form.

    Rob Crawford (c55962)

  5. In fact, I’ll throw in two more forms for that billion. Because I’m customer-focused.

    Rob Crawford (c55962)

  6. Sorry MT, they are not customers of the American government. They are petitioners to the American People. No one says they should not be treated with respect neither should they be treated in any special way. My wife is South Korean and it took us 12 years and over $15,000 to get her citizenship. But we got it.

    Legal immigration is congested and it is hard on legitimate would-be Americans…and it should be. We don’t need every Thom, Dick and Mohammad walking into our country underfinaced, uneducated or rife with desease or hostility toward us or our government. They should and do jump through hoops. Or have we learned nothing from the Boston bombings?

    Keep them out until they prove they are worth letting in. And that comes from a man who married an immigrant and helped her become a proud American.

    Hoagie (3259ab)

  7. Government run software development programs are astonishing for their high rate of very expensive failures.

    SPQR (768505)

  8. MT Geofff,

    Under the immigration reform bill, it’s my undersanding illegal immigrants who petition for citizenship will be considered customers, too.

    DRJ (a83b8b)

  9. “We don’t need every Thom, Dick and Mohammad walking into our country underfinanced, uneducated or rife with disease or hostility toward us or our government. They should and do jump through hoops. Or have we learned nothing from the Boston bombings?

    Keep them out until they prove they are worth letting in.”

    I agree entirely. Unfortunately, not only is that kind of thinking quaint in this day and age, it is considered downright downright xenophobic and racist by those on the left (and I consider amnesty granting Repubs among that crowd). They are willing to admit 12MM and another 20-40MM of their relatives just because they were able to cross our border illegally. Makes sense – right? US national interest be damned when politicos can benefit.

    in_awe (7c859a)

  10. What was it Gingrich said about suing private industry to solve information problems? I bet YouTube or eBay could get that data upload problem solved for a LOT less than $2 billion.

    Kevin M (bf8ad7)

  11. *using

    Kevin M (bf8ad7)

  12. On the other hand, the IRS Tea Party targeting was (as part of the IRS’s defense) an example of the government’s concept of customer service.

    max (131bc0)

  13. Well, I might be quaint in_awe, but as a guy with a first wife (deceased) that was Jewish and a second that is Asian I am hardly xenophobic nor racist.

    Having gone through the requirements and expense of naturalization with a legal immigrant I have zero tolerance for illegals. None should be granted amnesty nor work permits nor any government aid until they leave and request entry as laborors or whatever.

    BTW, my wife became an American last year and in her firt election in which she could vote she went Romney. If INS/ICE had known they may have denied her. Or at least sicked the IRS on her.

    Hoagie (3259ab)

  14. The problem with all these computer programs is that every T-D&H in the Apparat wants quirks in it to satisfy what they perceive to be needs.
    It would be far more efficient to allow the software gurus to design the program, install it, and also replace the Apparat that needs to use it.

    Or, just Out-Source the functions of the government to a civilian workforce that is oriented towards “customer service” and that rewards efficiency.
    I dream of a Pentagon office the size of the mythical “Raiders” warehouse, with a single desk occupied by a single clerk, coordinating all of his contracts through his desktop.

    askeptic (b8ab92)

  15. A new USCIS computer system to screen applications known as ‘Transformation’

    Designed to transform our republic into a third-world socialist kleptocracy.

    Patricia (be0117)

  16. Designed to better transform our republic into a third-world socialist kleptocracy.

    FTFY!

    askeptic (b8ab92)

  17. I saw a great bumper sticker the other day.

    “The answer to ‘1984’ is ‘1776’”

    Elephant Stone (6a6f37)

  18. Here’s a radical idea:

    Let’s re-establish Ellis Island!
    We’ll take an unused SAC base somewhere in the boonies, and require that all immigrants entering the US arrive there by plane. The existing housing can be utilized, and there is plenty of office space. And, we’ll use the same requirements that the original Ellis Island used for admission:
    Free of disease and criminal history, a sponsor who is willing to support you (because we certainly can’t afford to), and the immigrant’s willingness to become An American.

    askeptic (b8ab92)

  19. more….
    Anyone caught within the territory of the USofA who has not followed these proceedures will be immediately deported to their home country, and permanently barred from any entry into the country.

    askeptic (b8ab92)

  20. In the (pre-1920s) days of Ellis Island there wasn’t a distinction between visitors and immigrants. There was also no quota, but just conditions.

    Sammy Finkelman (d22d64)

  21. Illegal aliens = customers.

    Citizens = suspects.

    Patricia (be0117)

  22. “….and the immigrant’s willingness to become An American.”

    And LEARN THE FRIGGIN LANGUAGE!

    Hoagie (3259ab)

  23. “Anyone caught within the territory of the USofA who has not followed these proceedures will be immediately deported to their home country, and permanently barred from any entry into the country.”

    And if said deportee is found once again inside the US of A he will be deported to Somalia. Let’s see him sneak in again from there.

    Hoagie (3259ab)

  24. And if said deportee is found once again inside the US of A he will be deported to Somalia. Let’s see him sneak in again from there.

    And if he’s found here again, he’s given title to two acres in Detroit.

    Rob Crawford (c55962)

  25. The best jokes have a grain of truth. Maybe that’s why I find Patricia’s comment hilarious.

    DRJ (a83b8b)

  26. And if said deportee is found once again inside the US of A he will be deported to Somalia.

    Roman Maroni Deported to Sweden!
    Says he’s not from there!

    Chuck Bartowski (11fb31)

  27. “And if he’s found here again, he’s given title to two acres in Detroit.”

    Sorry Rob Crawford, that’s cruel even for an illegal.

    Sad thing is there are probibly plenty illegals who do do much better with two acres in Detroit than the current crop of leftist socialists could ever dream of.

    Hoagie (3259ab)

  28. Tha was supposed to be ” who would do much better”.

    Hoagie (3259ab)

  29. “Can’t I just eat my waffle ?”

    Elephant Stone (6a6f37)

  30. “Can’t I just get a Marine to hold my umbrella ? I’m being attacked by rain !”

    Elephant Stone (6a6f37)

  31. Could we Off-Shore the IRS to Somalia?

    askeptic (b8ab92)

  32. “Customer” !?!?!!

    12 million served.

    Now serving: 12,492,211

    Thank you.
    Have a nice day.

    AMartel (88c646)

  33. I would like some fries with that, but please hold the Orwellian language and Administration lies.

    Elephant Stone (6a6f37)

  34. I would like to pay for a Whopper, but I understand the Administration is giving away free Whoppers every day !

    Elephant Stone (6a6f37)

  35. I’ll stand by what I said.
    Legitimate, lawful immigrants who want to be Americans and who want to share in building wealth and opportunity are people I want coming in.
    Anyone who identifies as such should have a reasonable process to apply for lawful entry and that process should be respectful and courteous. It should include a background check and an evaluation of suitability.
    Note that arriving lawfully and becoming a citizen are distinct processes. Those who would be citizens do need to learn the language and about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Some of our born citizens need to learn those also.
    I have the same interest in importing poverty, violence or dependency as most Pattericians (if I may coin a word) — zero.

    MT Geoff (a67ef4)

  36. I was a teen in California in the mid 1970s. That’s when the Southeast Asian boat people came to our area in great numbers. They started in refugee centers and established themselves as students, as business operators, as laborers — in many walks of life. Some adapted less well, some turned to crime or dependency. As a thread in our society, though, the “boat people” were mostly grateful and mostly real gains. I know at least one who arrived as a child, married a friend of mine, and turned out much better off than I am. Well done!

    MT Geoff (a67ef4)

  37. how does cowardly ramming a cheesey backroom immigration scheme up america’s ass in the dark of night resolve into a narrative Republicans can use to win over hispanic voters?

    happyfeet (c60db2)

  38. Thanks, DRJ. 🙂

    Patricia (be0117)

  39. Illegal aliens = customers.

    Citizens = suspects.

    Comment by Patricia (be0117) — 5/21/2013 @ 10:39 am

    Don’t forget this one courtesy of the Obama Misadministration:
    Afghan and Iraq Vets=Possible Terrorists

    peedoffamerican (ee1de0)


Powered by WordPress.

Page loaded in: 0.1137 secs.